Potential pathophysiological mechanisms underlying COVID-19-induced myocardial injury

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has rapidly spread to 99 countries and regions including China (update on March 9, 2020). Although patients with COVID-19 mainly manifest as pneumonia, some of them have clinical manifestations of myocardial injury. Recent histopathological results showed myocardial injury which is characterized by cardiomyocyte degeneration/necrosis, infiltration of monocytes, lymphocytes and/or neutrophils into the myocardial interstitium, endothelial cell detachment, intimal inflammation and microthrombus formation. These results indicate that the myocardium might be an important attack target of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus that causes COVID-19. Therefore, investigation of the pathophysiological process of COVID-19-induced myocardial injury is of great significance to reduce the mortality and increase the cure rate of the patients. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of COVID-19-induced myocardial injury involving vasculitis and hypoxemia as well as their underlying potential mechanisms.     

Can parkland mitigate mental health burden imposed by the COVID-19? A national study in China

The worldwide coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has seriously affected not only physical health but also mental wellbeing (i.e mental stress and suicide intention) of numerous urban inhabitants across the globe. While many studies have elucidated urban parkland enhances and mental wellbeing of urban residents, the potential for parkland to mitigate mental health burden imposed by the COVID-19 has received no attention. This nationwide study systematically explored the association between parkland, the COVID-19 pandemic situation and mental wellbeing from 296 cities in China. The study innovatively used big data from Baidu Search Engine to assess city-level mental wellbeing, thereby enabling comparisons among cities. The results show that the provision of parkland is positively associated with mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 epidemic. For COVID-19-related indicators, the geographical distance to Wuhan city, work resumption rate, and travel intensity within the city are also positively associated with mental wellbeing, while the number of COVID-19 infections and the proportion of migrants from Hubei Province for each city are negatively associated with mental wellbeing. Last, the most important finding is that parkland reduces the negative effect of COVID-19 on mental wellbeing during the COVID-19 epidemic. To achieve the goal of promoting mental wellbeing through urban planning and design during the future pandemics, policymakers and planners are advised to provide more well-maintained and accessible parkland and encourage residents to use them with proper precautions.     

Pathogenesis,prevention and treatment of COVID-19 based on Th17/Treg immune imbalance

The extremely severe epidemic situation of coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19） outbreak around the world with high infectiousness and rapid spread has become a public health emergency of international concern. The disease is caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 （SARS-CoV-2）, and cytokine storm is an important pathological manifestation. Related studies have shown that cytokine storm and dysregulation of host immune responses characterized by lymphopenia are important mechanisms for the pathogenesis of severe COVID-19. The immune response disorder of COVID-19 is closely related to T helper 17 cell/regulatory T cell （Th17/Treg） immune imbalance. SARS-CoV-2 infection leads to excessive activation of lung immune cells, forming a cytokine storm dominated by interleukin-6 （IL-6）. Then, the Th17/Treg immune balance is broken, forming a vicious circle, which eventually promotes the rapid aggravation of the disease. Finally, COVID-19 progresses into acute respiratory distress syndrome, and even respiratory failure until death. Therefore, it is more important to discuss the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 from the perspective of immune imbalance. On the view of treatment, before effective antiviral drugs and vaccines are successfully developed, we should pay attention to immune regulation for severe and critically ill patients. Treatments with inflammatory factor blockers, glucocorticoids, recovered plasma and traditional Chinese medicine have certain immunomodulatory effect. This article discusses the pathogenesis of COVID-19 based on Th17/Treg immune imbalance, and elaborates on immunomodulatory therapy, aiming to provide reference for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19 and drug development.     

利用远缘杂交创制抗虫长豇豆新种质

开展了长豇豆(Vigna unguiculata L. ssp. sesquipedalis)与其近缘种饭豆[V. umbellata(Thunb.)Ohwi&Ohashi]的远缘杂交,对亲本和杂交高世代(F₇)进行了田间抗虫水平和荚果性状观测鉴定。结果表明:(1)饭豆品种的田间抗虫水平普遍高于长豇豆品种;(2)在长豇豆和饭豆远缘杂交的全分离谱世代(F₆)363个株系中,初选了41个虫害发生较轻的单株,组成F₇代供后续鉴定;(3)田间试验观测到F₇代株系抗虫水平有较大分离,复选出7个高抗水平的重组株系;结合单荚质量、荚长和籽粒密度等荚果相关性状数据特征,决选出在营养生长期对斜纹夜蛾、甜菜夜蛾等主要害虫综合抗性达到高抗(HR)水平且荚果性状近似于长豇豆的株系2个,实现了长豇豆抗虫的种质创新。     

Roles of SARS-CoV-2 receptor ACE2 in various diseases

It is well know that severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 （SARS-CoV-2） can enter host cells through angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 （ACE2）, which is a key step in the development of coronavirus disease 2019 （COVID-19）. At the same time, ACE2 is expressed in a variety of tissues and regulates many biological functions, including inflammation, cell proliferation and oxidative stress, as a key negative regulator of the renin-angiotensin system. It plays an important role in the changes of physiological functions and pathological diseases of multiple systems and organs. Therefore, in addition to COVID-2019, ACE2 is also a potential therapeutic target for the diseases such as acute lung injury, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and kidney diseases. This article reviews the mechanism of ACE2 in the above diseases and new strategies for therapeutic application.     

Citizens’ use of public urban green spaces at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy

Since early 2020, Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread rapidly, quickly becoming a global pandemic. To counter the COVID-19 outbreak, national governments have issued different measures and restrictions, forcing citizens to adapt to a whole new lifestyle. These restrictions have impacted on the use of green spaces by citizens owing to many factors: more available free time, increased flexibility in the work environment, and a need to relax in Nature to relieve anxiety and stress. Urban green spaces provide many benefits for the physical and psychological well-being of citizens (e.g., habitat conservation, pollution control, recreational and leisure opportunities). To understand if citizens’ habits have changed due to the COVID-19 restrictions, this study provides insights from a web-based survey monitoring the use of such spaces before and during the COVID-19 lockdowns in Italy. A web-based questionnaire was conducted via “Facebook Messenger” and “WhatsApp” at the end of the second wave of COVID-19 (May–June 2021). Data collection having been concluded, 1075 completed questionnaires were collected and processed. The results show that while many reduced their weekly frequentation of green areas (−16.5%), the number of people frequenting green areas near their home every day increased (+7.7%). Two main groups of people were identified: the first, those who intensified their visits to green areas being those who desired to spend time in contact with Nature; the second, those who were reluctant to visit green areas for fear of being infected. The results also show most of the respondents felt urban green areas were either very important (82.1%) or important (14.4%). Overall, the results reveal that COVID-19 induced a positive perception of the benefits provided by urban green areas, with a consequent greater use of them, which seems destined to last even once the public health emergency has passed.     

Using social media data to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban green space use

Having access to and visiting urban green space (UGS) improves liveability and provides considerable benefits to residents. However, traditional methods of investigating UGS visitation, such as questionnaires and social surveys, are usually time- and resource-intensive, and frequently provide less transferable, site-specific outcomes. This study uses social media data (Twitter) to examine spatio-temporal changes in UGS use in London associated with COVID-19 related lockdowns. It compares georeferenced Tweets posted in a 3 month period from 23 March to 23 June for 3 years covering the first lockdown in the UK in 2020, with Tweets for the same period in 2019 and 2021. The results show that (1) the land-use type of Public Park and Garden was the most frequently visited type of UGS, which may be correlated with these UGS areas remaining opening during the lockdown period; (2) the usage of UGS decreased in central London and increased in other areas during lockdown, which may correlated with working from home restrictions; (3) activities were positively associated with Physical activities maybe as a result of allowing people to take a single daily exercise, and (4) people spent more time in UGS areas on weekdays than weekends compared to pre-lockdown. This is the first study to examine social media data over consistent time period before, during and after the lockdown in relation to UGS. The results show that the findings and method can inform policy makers in their management and planning of UGS, especially in a period of social crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic.     

Traffic restrictions during COVID-19 lockdown improve air quality and reduce metal biodeposition in tree leaves

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has had a great global impact on human health, the life of people, and economies all over the world. However, in general, COVID-19´s effect on air quality has been positive due to the restrictions on social and economic activity. This study aimed to assess the impact on air quality and metal deposition of actions taken to reduce mobility in 2020 in two different urban locations. For this purpose, we analysed air pollution (NO₂, NO, NO_x, SO_2, CO, PM_10, O₃) and metal accumulation in leaves of Tilia cordata collected from April to September 2020 in two cities in northern Spain (Pamplona-PA and San Sebastián-SS). We compared their values with data from the previous year (2019) (in which there were no mobility restrictions) obtained under an identical experimental design. We found that metal accumulation was mostly lower during 2020 (compared with 2019), and lockdown caused significant reductions in urban air pollution. Nitrogen oxides decreased by 33%−44%, CO by 24%−38%, and PM₁₀ by 16%−24%. The contents of traffic-related metals were significantly reduced in both studied cities. More specifically, significant decreases in metals related to tyre and brake wear (Zn, Fe, and Cu) and road dust resuspension (Al, Ti, Fe, Mn, and Ca) were observed. With these results, we conclude that the main reason for the improvement in urban air pollutants and metals was the reduction in the use of cars due to COVID-19 lockdown. In addition, we offer some evidence indicating the suitability of T. cordata leaves as a tool for biomonitoring metal accumulation. This information is relevant for future use by the scientific community and policy makers to implement measures to reduce traffic air pollution in urban areas and to improve environmental and human health.     

COVID-19 pandemic changes the recreational use of Moscow parks in space and time: Outcomes from crowd-sourcing and machine learning

The limited access to urban green spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the human-nature interaction in cities and human well-being. Number of visitors to green areas, initially declined due to imposed restrictions, was restored after they were lifted as established by several studies across the globe However, little is still known about changes in behavior and preferences of park visitors in the post-COVID time. In this study, we investigated spatial-temporal patterns of recreational activities in the three urban parks in Moscow (Russia) prior, during and after the COVID-19 lockdown (in 2019 and 2020). The selected parks represent two different types: a centrally located park with much infrastructure and open landscapes (Gorky Park) and parks located at the outskirts of the city center with a more forested landscape and little infrastructure (Timiryazevski and Sokolniki parks). Recreational activities were identified based on the analysis of social media photos using machine-learning algorithms. As expected, park closures during lockdown resulted in overall decrease in the number of taken photos. After the parks were re-opened, however, the number of photos did not grow immediately. The number of photos only restored after almost three months, and the visiting peak shifted to autumn. Differences between parks were related to the type of the park and its landscape structure. The lowest decrease in the number of photos was observed for the Timiryazevsky park – a semi-natural green area, while the centrally located Gorky Park was the most affected, likely due to the strictest control measures. In comparison to 2019, photos in 2020 were more evenly distributed across the area in all the three parks. Besides, ‘natural’ areas became the main attractors for the visitors - photos under ‘nature observation’ category became the most popular. Spatial distribution of the recreational activities in post-lockdown period was characterized by larger distances between photos, likely corresponding to the social distancing. COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the value of green areas for citizens, but also changed their recreational preferences and overall behavior in parks. The observed shift from high density of visitors around entertainments and attractions in 2019 to a more homogeneous and less dense distribution along the natural zones in 2020 reveals a new pattern in visitors behavior and preference, which shall be considered in spatial planning of the parks. Increasing availability of natural green areas and their integration in urban green infrastructures can become the most relevant policy to consider the crucial role of urban nature as a source of resilience in turbulent times.     

Urban park use and self-reported physical,mental, and social health during the COVID-19 pandemic: An on-site survey in Beijing,China

The COVID-19 pandemic created unprecedented challenges for people’s health. Studies have demonstrated the positive impact of urban green spaces, particularly urban parks, on physical and mental health. However, few studies have evaluated social health, which is a component of human health, and more understanding of the relationship between urban parks and human health during the COVID-19 pandemic is required. This study examined the effects of urban parks on people’s health using a canonical correlation model. Physical, mental, and social health were the dependent health variables, and five factors related to urban parks were the independent variables. This study investigated 22 urban parks inside the Forth Ring Road in Beijing, China using a questionnaire survey. The results demonstrated a positive association between urban parks and human health during the pandemic. Distance to the parks, park area, and park size were positively correlated with physical, mental, and social health. Furthermore, frequency and duration of visits to urban parks were positively associated with mental health and contact with neighbors. The health effects of urban park use varied with park types and locations’ urbanization background. These findings can provide insights for health-oriented urban park planning and construction.     

Effects of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions on park crime in London,England: An interrupted time series analysis

IntroductionPark crimes may have increased during the COVID-19 pandemic as a result of lockdowns that limited the number of capable guardians in public spaces. Despite this, the impacts of the lockdowns on park crimes remain unknown. To help us understand the societal impacts of policies implemented during this period, we assessed how the onset of the COVID-19 restrictions impacted urban park crime levels in London, England.MethodsWe identified crimes that occurred in publicly accessible parks and gardens in the Greater London Authority (England, UK) between March 1, 2019 and February 28, 2021 by overlaying open-access crime data with greenspace data supplied by the Greater Information for Greater London service. Using interrupted time series analyses, we estimated seasonality-adjusted associations between the onset of COVID-19 restrictions and park crimes.ResultsOverall (1565.7, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1021.9 to 2109.5) and antisocial behaviour crimes (1772.7, 95% CI 823.6–2721.7) increased in London parks during the first full month of COVID-19 restrictions (April 2020). There were no notable trends in park crimes in London prior to the onset of restrictions, but overall and antisocial behaviour crimes decreased after the onset of restrictions at a rate of 156.4 (95% CI −220.25 to −92.51) and 164.7 (95% CI −280.68 to −48.74) crimes/months, respectively.ConclusionsOverall park crimes increased during the first full month of the COVID-19 restrictions, largely driven by an increase in antisocial behaviours. Additional research is needed to identify the specific misdemeanours that accounted for this rise in antisocial behaviours and to investigate their downstream impacts (e.g. increases in policing costs or decreases in perceived park safety).     

How the COVID-19 pandemic changed patterns of green infrastructure use: A scoping review

The use of green infrastructure (GI) has been established as a way to alleviate stress and the COVID-19 pandemic has placed a new emphasis on the importance of GI as both a coping mechanism and a source of recreation. This scoping review seeks to address whether the COVID-19 pandemic affected the use of GI, specifically the ways in which the pandemic altered visitation patterns and the frequency of the use of GI. This review identifies studies that explore the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and GI use and assesses whether the pandemic has altered the use of GI, including whether GI use increased, decreased, or remained the same and examines potential changes in visitation structure as well as other effects studied. This review also discusses how future planning for GI can consider the lessons learned from the pandemic. Key findings suggest that GI use increased, as did visitors’ appreciation for GI and its benefits. The use of local GI to one’s home also increased in importance. Decreases in visitation were typically a result of COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and fear of viral transmission within GI.     

Changes in visits to green spaces due to the COVID-19 pandemic: Focusing on the proportion of repeat visitors and the distances between green spaces and visitors’ places of residences

Through a quantitative approach, this study aimed to clarify the changes in the number of visitors and visits to green spaces according to green space type before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. We explored the changes in the proportion of repeat visitors and the distance between green spaces and visitors’ places of residence. We used KDDI Location Analyzer, which performs novel analysis using mobile phone GPS and census data. The study area included 10 target sites (urban parks and nature trails in the backcountry) located in the Sapporo metropolitan area in Japan. The survey period included snow-free seasons from 2019 to 2021, and 2019 was considered the period “before the pandemic.” The results revealed that the number of visits during the pandemic increased compared with those before the pandemic, except for those of urban parks near the city center. In 2020, the proportion of repeat visitors increased for all 10 target sites. In addition, since the outbreak of the pandemic, distances between all urban parks and visitors’ residences decreased. The same trend was observed for nature trails in the backcountry close to the city center. These findings indicate a generally decreasing trend in the number of visits to green spaces as many people have been refraining from visiting the site since the outbreak of the pandemic. Contrastingly, the number of visits by repeat visitors who reside close to the target sites has increased in some cases, which compensated for the general decreases.     

How did the COVID-19 pandemic impact urban green spaces? A multi-scale assessment of Jeddah megacity (Saudi Arabia)

The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic emerged as a global public health threat. In this crisis period, urban parks provided multiple ecosystem services and direct/indirect benefits to mental and physical health. However, the use patterns, attitudes, and perceptions of urban park visitors remained unexplored in Saudi cities. This study aimed to find out the use patterns, attitudes, and perceptions of people regarding urban parks during the COVID-19 pandemic, and the findings were compared with non-pandemic periods. Two urban parks (Al Masarah Garden and Al Jamaa Garden) in Jeddah megacity (Saudi Arabia) were assessed, and 215 respondents were surveyed to fulfil the objectives of the study. The study applied a questionnaire survey and field observations to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the use patterns, attitudes, and perceptions of urban park visitors. Non-parametric tests (Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests) were performed to find out the impact of sociodemographic factors (such as age, gender, and education). From the results, it was found that the COVID-19 pandemic had a substantial impact on the use, attitudes, and perceptions of urban parks in comparison with non-pandemic periods. The number of park visitors decreased during the COVID-19 pandemic, but urban parks were crucial to people’s mental and physical well-being. The findings of this study may help to understand the importance of urban parks as green spaces and to implement measures to enhance the quality and quantity of urban green spaces in Saudi cities.     

Identification and investigation of relationships of mandarin types using isozyme analysis

Sixteen enzyme systems with 19 loci were used to discriminate 19 mandarin cultivars and hybrids. Variability was observed at 12 loci, and all but 3 mandarin types could be discriminated, 2 of which were probably identical. Relatedness within the tangelo and tangor groups was high, probably reflecting their recent origin. Relatedness within the common mandarin group was low, reflecting their multiple origins and long cultivation. Exceptions were cultivars ‘Algerian’ and ‘Beauty of Glen Retreat’, which differed at only 1 locus. Relatedness between the groups was generally low, with the least relatedness between the tangelos and the other groups, probably owing to their grapefruit parent. The ‘Ellendale’ cultivars formed a particularly cohesive group, but with 2 isozyme genotypes, differing at 2 loci, both marketed as ‘Ellendale’. Three of the ‘Ellendale’-type cultivars probably arose by self-pollination of ‘Ellendale’, the rest either by self-pollination or by mutation.     

疫情防控常态化下大兴区蔬菜特优基地应对措施及发展模式探索

新冠肺炎疫情期间,大兴区蔬菜特优基地,作为北京农产品绿色优质安全示范基地,积极采取应对措施,如成立互助组织,解决蔬菜用工和销售问题;优化品种结构,扩大叶菜生产;应用先进技术,提高蔬菜生产效率;加强产销对接,保障蔬菜供应等,探索出疫情防控常态化下的完善的运营模式、科学的管理模式及智能的网络化模式等蔬菜特优基地发展模式,这...     

Green infrastructure inequality in the context of COVID-19: Taking parks and trails as examples

Urban green infrastructures play a critical role in enhancing the well-being of residents, yet their equitable access remains a concern, particularly during the COVID-19 outbreak. There is a lack of knowledge on how people respond to the pandemic regarding the usage of green infrastructure in cities. This paper explores the shifts in visitation to parks and trails, two popular types of green infrastructures in Salt Lake County, Utah, by analyzing the results of a survey conducted during the pandemic. Our conceptualization considers personal and neighborhood level factors, including personal socioeconomic status, existing inequalities of green infrastructures, urban form, and neighborhood conditions. People who reside close to the city center tend to go to parks more often, while those living in urban edges use trails more. Visiting green infrastructures less often is more likely in areas with higher COVID-19 infection rates. The regression results confirm the importance of neighborhood level factors and illustrate the intricate elements influencing people's decisions to visit different green infrastructures during the pandemic, which shows non-linear relationships. Wealthier, white, and younger people seem to enjoy green infrastructures more often, leading to the concern of amplified inequality. Higher COVID-19 cases result in higher demands for green infrastructures, which are not fulfilled during the pandemic, especially for vulnerable communities, leading to spatial exclusion. The findings highlight the importance of smart growth, including compact development, public transit, and pocket parks, in promoting the urban resilience of park and trail visits, as they may provide more opportunities for access and alternatives to green infrastructures even in the context of the pandemic.     

Gardening can relieve human stress and boost nature connection during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has severely disrupted social life. Gardens and yards have seemingly risen as a lifeline during the pandemic. Here, we investigated the relationship between people and gardening during the COVID-19 pandemic and what factors influenced the ability of people to garden. We examined survey responses (n = 3,743) from gardeners who reported how the pandemic had affected personal motivations to garden and their use of their gardens, alongside pandemic-related challenges, such as food access during the first wave of COVID-19 (May-Aug 2020). The results show that for the respondents, gardening was overwhelmingly important for nature connection, individual stress release, outdoor physical activity and food provision. The importance of food provision and economic security were also important for those facing greater hardships from the pandemic. While the literature on gardening has long shown the multiple benefits of gardening, we report on these benefits during a global pandemic. More research is needed to capture variations in public sentiment and practice – including those who do little gardening, have less access to land, and reside in low-income communities particularly in the global south. Nevertheless, we argue that gardening can be a public health strategy, readily accessible to boost societal resilience to disturbances.     

Characterization for yield, fruit quality, and molecular profiles of lemon genotypes tolerant to ‘mal secco’ disease

‘Mal secco’ is a serious disease of lemon and other citrus species, reduces lemon production, and limits the use of susceptible cultivars especially in the Mediterranean countries, against which there is no effective management system to control the disease. The objective of this study was to determine yield efficiency, tree and fruit characters, and molecular profiles of the selected promising genotypes in lemon breeding program to develop ‘mal secco’ tolerant lemon cultivars. After 4 years of evaluation, ‘Tuzcu 894’, a progeny of ‘Finike Yerli Yuvarlak’ and ‘Kutdiken’, was designated as promising genotype with high yield, fruit weight, juice content and low seed number contrary to ‘Kutdiken’ as control. ‘Tuzcu 8911’ was suitable for dense planting having the highest yield in CV. In addition, these two promising genotypes survived after many years being subjected to artificial and natural P. tracheiphila infections and harsh winter temperatures, which were attractive to the citrus industry. Molecular analysis, as assessed with 11 inter-simple sequence repeats (ISSR) primers, indicated that ‘Tuzcu 09 Aklimon’ and its selections, ‘Tuzcu 896’, ‘Tuzcu 897’ and ‘Tuzcu 898’, were distinct from the other genotypes with similarity value of 0.82. Genetic variation among the other lemon genotypes was low and some of the genotypes were identical. It was concluded that variations in the agronomical characters are mainly due to mutations.     

早熟丰产苦瓜一代杂种翠绿1号

翠绿１号是用早熟、丰产的强雌性系１９＃作母本与优质、抗逆性强的系统江选１０５作父本配制而成的苦瓜一代杂种。该品种早熟、丰产、优质、抗逆性强，比原主栽品种江门大顶早熟１０～１５天。前期产量增产９１．５％，总产量增产３８．１％，一般每６６７ｍ２产量２０００ｋｇ，单果重０．４ｋｇ。适于华南地区春、秋季栽培